Pressing and ironing machine



Aug. 16, 1932. c. E. WAREAM PRESSING AND IRONING MACHINE Filed July 3,1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY M Aug. 16, 1932. c. E. WAREAM PRESSING AND IRONING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 3, 1930 INVENTOR("Jar/ s 15 hraam T ole/v51:

Aug. 16, 1932. c. E. WAREAM 1,871,436

FRESSING AND IRONING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 3 I 1 I IV////////////////////////a 7//////////////////////// 6:, ATTORNEYJPatented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED. STATES PATENT. 'OFECE BHABLES E. WAREAM,OF NOR-WOOD, (EH10, ASSIGNOR T THE IAMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY,OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A COEPORATIQN OF OHIO rn-Essrne AND mourns MacrameApplication filed July 3, 1930. Serial No. 465,555.

My invention relates to a pressing and ironing machine and,particularly, to a press-V ing and ironing machine which is continu--ous and automatic in operation and relieves the operator of allresponsibility in connection with the pressing and ironing operationwith the exception of making the proper lays of material to be ironed onthe padded bucks.

It contemplates the provision of a pressing and ironing machineembodying a plurality of padded bucks automatically movable over a fixedpath and beneath and in contact with the series of spaced sets of heatedironing rolls which are rotated in such direction with relation to thetravel of the padded bucks and at such speed as to impart to thearticles on the bucks a sliding ironing action. In previous ironingmachine of the continuous type, a part or all of the padded bucks havebeen brought to rest within the ironing areas to load and unload a partor all of the bucks or rearrange the Work thereon. However, in mydevice, the padded bucks are only stopped intermediate spaced ironingareas any one of which intermediate points may be the initial loadingstation and any one of which may be the unloading station. r r

Various objects and advantageous features of my invention may be seen inthe following description and one embodiment thereof may be seen in theaccompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designatecorresponding parts, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a pressing and ironing machine constructed inaccordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of parts of the press ing and ironing machineshown in Fig.1 and taken on the line 2-2 of Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. r

Fig. %l is a detail view taken on the line -l l of Figs. 1 and 3. v

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the electrical current distributingmeans for the heated ironing rolls. 7

Fig. 6 is a view, partly diagrammatic, showing the electrical controlmeans for the apparatuses well-as the electrical circuit for heating theironing rolls. r

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 2 thereof, '1 haveshown a press; ing and ironing machine embodying supporting uprightsand'frames 1 and 2' which are of the same general construction so. thata de-; scription of onewill suf'rice fora description of both. Uprightmembers 3, 4i, 5.. and 6 are secured to frames 1 and 2 and each pairofupright members, for instance, 3, 4: and'5, :6 are connected together attheir upper ends by plates 7 and 8 that provide a covering for aplurality of ironing rolls hereinafter described. The frames 1 and 2also support track members 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, the track members'9, 10 and 11 forming one side of asubstantially oval shaped loop andthe track members 12, 13 and14; forming the opposite side thereof. Asshown in Fig. '1, the track members 10 and 13 are connected at theirends by circular=tracks to complete the substantially oval shaped loopand these ci-rcular track portions consist of tracks 15 and 16 and flatportions 17, 18, 1-9 and 20, the Hat portions 17 and 18 being supportedon the frame Work 21 and the flat portions 19 and 20 being supported ona framework 22 which is similar to the frame work'21. I

Suitable carriages 23 are mounted upon these tracks by means of rollers24, the carriages providing a means for supporting padded bucks 25 andthe padded bucks :being resiliently mounted on the carriages by means ofbolts. 26 and springs 27 to permit downward movementof the padded buckswhen they engage and'pass beneath heated ironing rolls during theironing operation. As shown in'Fig. 1, each carriage 23 is secured toone of the links of a continuousconveyor chain 28 as at 29 and separatecarriages are connected to the chain 28 at equally spaced in tervals. a

The driving mechanism for the conveyor chain 28 consists of adrivingsprocket .30 mounted on the frame 21 at one end of the machineand keyed to thejhubo fa bevelgear 36, the driving sprocket and bevelgear both being mounted and free to turn on .a stud 37 suitablysupported in the frame 21 -Abevel pinion 38 that is rigidly mounted onone end of a driven shaft 39 meshes with the bevel gear 36, the powerbeing transmitted to the driven shaft 39 from an electric motor 40 andthence through a coupling 41 and suitable gear speed reductionmechanism42' to the driven shaft. Thus, the padded bucks 25 may be moved aboutthe substantially oval track hereinbefore described.

Energization of the motor or power unit 40 drives the conveyor chain 28,thereby moving the padded bucks 25 into and out of an ironing area orinto and out of contact'with a plurality of ironing rolls 43 which rollsare preferably driven in the direction of travel of the padded bucks andby the same motor means so that the relative movements of the ironingrolls andthe padded bucks will be more or less synchronized. a 7

As shown best in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a gear wheel 44 is rigidly mounted onthe shaft 39 and is in mesh withagear 45 on a shaft 46 which is suitablyj ournalled in the uprights 5 and 6. A bevel gear 47 is disposed on theshaft 46 and is adjacent each of its outermost ends and this gear isadapted to mesh with bevel gears 48 and 49 on shafts 50 and 51 to drivesuch shafts in opposite directions. Each of the shafts 50 and 51 have agear .52 rigidly secured thereon and in meshing relation with a gear 53which has driving connection with a gear'on the next adjacent roll 43'whereby a series of rolls maybe driven from each of the driven shafts 50and 51. Each of the rollers 42 is provided with a gear in mesh ingrelation with the gears of the next adj acent rollers whereby therotation of one roller will cause rotation of the others at the samerate of speed or synchronously. These rolls are preferablyrotated in adirection and at a speed to impart a sliding ironing action to the workon the bucks passing therebeneath. r

The control means for the actuation of the electric power unit 40preferably comprises an electrical switch of the dashpot type as shownin Fig. 6 and whichconsists of a switch housing 54 and an oil housing55. A switch rod 56 is mounted within and adapted to slide in thecasings 54 and. and has a roller 57 mounted on the upper end thereof andattached thereto by means of a clevis 58 and carrying a connector orbridging member 59 thereon within'the switch housing and a pisten 60within the oil housing. The contactor or bridging member 59 is adaptedto normally connect spaced contacts 61 and 62 mounted within the switchhousing 54 and insulated from the walls thereof, as shown. A packinggland 63 prevents escape of oil from the oil housing into the switchhousing.

The lowermost side of the piston 60 which has ports 64 therein restsupon a compression spring 65 and in the operation of this part L of theapparatus, downward movement of the the ports 64 tothe under side ofthepiston 60. Therefore, a conduit or by-pass 67 through which the'oilflows from the upper to the under surfaceof the piston is provided. Aneedle valve 68 in the conduit 67 provides 'ameansfor regulating therate of flow of the ports 64 to a posioil from one side of the pistontotheother Y and thus prov-idesa means for re ulating the speed of upwardmovement of the piston and the resultant movement of the bridging member59 into contacting relation with the 'contacts 61 and 62.

In order to automatically operate the dashpot switch structure andthereby automatically control the movementof the operationof the motoror power unit 40 and movement of the padded bucks 25 about thesubstantially oval path hereinbefore described, a switch actuating lever69 is pivotally mounted beneath the track 10 or 13, in this instance bymeans of a bracket 70, the switch actuating lever and switch beinglocated intermediate adjacent pressing stations so that operation of themotor and travel of the bucks will be stopped when the bucks areintermediate successive ironing areas or ironing rollers. This lever hasa portion 71 that extends upwardly to above the level of the track 10,when the dashpot switch mechanism is in operative position and isadapted to be engaged and pushed downwardly by a trip lever 72 that isadjacent one of the traction elements 24 of the buck supporting frame onwhich it is mounted. The outer end of the switch actuating lever restsupon the top of the roller 57 which is disposed on the uppermost end ofthe switch rod 56.

In theoperation of this automatic switch operating mechanism, thedashpot switch mechanism and the actuating lever 69 is disposed at adesired point about the substantially oval shaped track hereinbeforedescribed whereby the buck supporting frame coil 7 4 of the magneticcontactor is energized by a circuit from L1 through the main line switch75, line 76, line 77, contact 61, bridging member 59, contact member 62,line 78, coil 74, line 79, line 80, and main lineswitch to L2. Thiscircuit causes the contacts 81 and 82 to be closed completing thecircuit to the armature 83 and field 84: of the motor or power unit 40,the circuit being from L1 through the line 76, contact 81, line 85,armature 83 and field 84;, line 86, contact 82, lines 79' and 80, andmain line switch 75 to L2. ith this construction, when the circuit isbroken between the bridging member 59 and contacts 61 and 62, the coil74 will be deenergized which will break the motor circuit at thecontacts 81 and 82 thus causing stoppage of the motor or power unit anda stoppage in the travel of the padded bucks after a slight coast, thiscoast being suiiicient to disengage the switch actuating lever 69 fromthe roller 57. Then, the spring 65 will slowly force the piston 60upwardly until the bridging member 59 again engages the contacts 61 and62 at which time the contactor coil 74 will be energized closing thecontacts 81 and 82 and completing the motor or power unit circuit justdescribed. The time required for the piston 60 to move from dotted lineposition to full line position and the bridging member to move intobridging relation with the contacts 61 and 62 may be regulated by theneedle valve 68 and is preferably of such length as to permit anoperator to make a satisfactory lay of an article on the padded buck.

As shown in Fig. 6, the main line switch 75 also controls the heating ofthe ironing rollers 43. Vhen the main line switch 75 is in op-, erativeposition, electrical current passes from L1, through the main lineswitch 75 and line 87 to distributor rings 88 and 89 shown in Fig. 3. Anelectrical current passes from the line 87 to distributor rings throughthe medium of contact fingers 90 and 91 that are mounted on studs 92which are secured in the downwardly extending webs 98 of the crossmembers 7 and 8.

As shown in Fig. 6, there are a plurality of these distributor rings 88and 89 connected in series from the line 87 and the line 9erespectivelyand each distributor ring has connected thereto one end of a resistancewire 95 which passes within an ironing roller 43 there being aresistance wire for each respective ironing roll. The circuit throughthese resistance wires or heating elements is from L1, main line switch75, line 87, contact finger 91, distributor ring 89, resistance wire 95,distributor ring 88, contact finger 90, line 94, and main line switch 75to L2. Thus, a means is provided for simultaneously causing heating ofthe ironing rolls and movement of the padded bucks.

To prevent the padded buck carriages 23 from shifting sideways haveprovided upwardly extending flanges 96 and 97 which are engaged byrollers 98 and 99. One of the rollers is preferably mounted midway ofthe length of the buck and the other is mounted near the rearwardmostend thereof. The operation and effect of these rollers will be clearlyapparent during the travel of the carriage from one end to the other ofthe substantially oval shaped track. However, the rollers are disengagedfrom the flanges during travel of the padded buck carriages around thecurved portions of the tracks 15 and 16 so as to permit turning of thebucks and buck carriages about the loops 7 Referring to the drawings andthe preceding description, it will be seen that I have provided apressing and ironing machine embodying numerous novel and advantageousfeatures. For instance, I have provided an ironing and pressing machineof such construction that the padded bucks having the articles to betreated thereon pass continuouslyfrom the initial loading station undera spaced serles of iron ng rolls plurality of which will travel in thesame direction as the padded bucks and thereby impart a sliding ironingaction'to the material being treated. Another advantageous featureresides in the fact that I have provided a continuously op eratingpressing and ironing machine that is automatic so far as the operationof the mechanism is concerned thereby relieving the operator of any andall responsibility other than making the proper lays of the material onthe padded bucks. Still another advantageous feature resides in the factthat the device is preferably so constructed and the parts so arranged,namely, with the power unit controlling means between adjacent pressingstations that the padded bucks do not stop within an ironing area butonlyat points between such ironing area or at the initial loadingstation. Various other features will be readily apparent.

, Nhat I claim is 1. In a machine of the class described, a supportingframe, a plurality of spaced work receiving bucks, means for connectingsaid bucks together in a gang, means for conveying said bucks through agiven path, a plurality of rotatable ironing rolls fixed at variouspoints in the path for engagement with said bucks, and means in the pathof said bucks operative upon being actuated by a buck for rendering saidconveying means ineffective. 7

2. In a machine of the class described,a supporting frame, a pluralityof spaced work receiving bucks, means for. connecting said buckstogether in a gang, means for conveying said bucks through a given path,a plurality of rotatable ironing rolls fixed at various points in thepath for engagement with said bucks, and means for automatically causllning a step by step movement of said bucks into engagement with saidironing rolls and into and out of a position intermediate adjacentironing rolls. 3. In a machine of the class described, a supportingframe, a plurality of spaced work receiving bucks, means for connectingsaid bucks together in a gang, means for conveying said bucks through agiven path, a plu- 10 rality of rotatable ironing rolls fixed at variouspoints in the path for engagement with said bucks, means forautomatically causing a step by step movement of said bucks intoengagement with'said ironing rolls and into and out of a positionintermediate adjacent ironing rolls, and means for'heating said ironingrolls. a 4. In a machine of the class described, a supporting frame, aplurality of spaced work receiving bucks, means for connecting saidbucks together in a gang, means for'conveying said bucks through a givenpath, a plurality of rotatable ironing rolls fixed at various points inthe path for engagement with said bucks, means actuated by movement ofsaid bucks about said path for rendering said conveying means inefiective, and means including a dashpot control mechanism for controllingoperation of said buck conveying means to initiate movement of saidbucks.

5. In a machine ofthe class described, a supporting frame, a pluralityof spaced work receiving bucks arranged in a loop with straight sides,means for connecting said 85 bucks together in a gang, means forconveying said bucks about said loop, a plurality of rotatable ironingrolls fixed at various points about the loop for engagement with saidbucks, and means in the path of said bucks operative upon being actuatedby a buck for rendering said conveying means'ineffective. 6. In amachine of the class described, a supporting frame, a plurality ofspaced work receiving bucks arranged in a loop With straight sides,means for connecting said bucks together in a gang, means for conveyingsaid bucks about said loop, a plurality of rotatable ironing rolls fixedat various points along the straight sides of said loop for en gagementwith said bucks,"and means in the path of said bucks operative uponbeing actuated by a buck for rendering said conveying means inefiective.

In testimony whereof I hereby affix my signature. 7 p

CHARLES E. W'AREAM;

